Photographic-printing machine



Jan. 2, 1923. 1,440,622

C. H. OWEN PHoroGRAPHIc PRINTlNc MACHINE. FRED Aus. 29. i921.

ATTORNEYS.

WITNESS -illl Patented Jan. 2, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE H. owen, or noonnsrnn, Nnwuomr, Assrearon 'ro BAs'rmAn xoDAxCOMPANY, or noenmmn, NEW Yonx, A CORPORATION or NRW Yonx. y

PEO'EDGBAFHJQ-PRINTIHG MACHINE- Applloation tiled August 29,

To all whom t may comer/1,: y

Be it known that I, CnAnnNon H. OWEN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, re-y siding at Rochester, inthe county of Monroe and btate ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements inFhotographic-Printing Mac ines', of which the following is a full,clear, and exact speciication.

This invention relates to photography, and more particularly to photoraphicy printingA machines, and has for its o ]ect to provide a simple,compact and durable yinachine for rapidl making contact prints fromeither glass or negatives. To these ends the improvements are directedparticularly to the means for automatically actuating the platen whichpresses the paper agains the negative; to means for varying the durationof the printing time; to means for automatically retaining-the platen inoperative position; and to means for accom lishing the steps of loweringthe platen, ightln the lamp, holding the platen closed and nally raisingthe laten with the least possible ef.- fort upon t e pant of the.operator. With these and other objects in View, the invention consistsin Certain improvements and combinations of all as will be hereinaftermore fully escribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claimsat the end of the specification.

ln the drawing, in which like characters designate like partsthroughout:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a p rintii machine constructed inaccordance with an illustrating one embodimentof my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line ll-I of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram.

The printing machine consists of a .cabinet 1 having a slanting front orframe 2 in which a printing panelv 3 is mounted, the panel beingconstructed preferably of heavy glass, as shown, mounted flush with theframe 2. A platen designated generally as 4 is carried by arms 5 and, 6and can be moved to and from panel 3 as arms 5 and 6 turn with a shaft7, which is carried in brackets 8 afiixed to front 2. A coiled spring 9normally tends to hold the platen raised, :is shown in Fig. 2. the forceapplied being in the direction of the arrow lin Fig. 1. The

1921. Serial` N9. 4949.

outer ends of levers 5 and 6 are connected by a rod` 1.0 which projectsthrough slots 11 in lugs l2, cast onthe platen back 13. .This is facedwith felt 14 or other soft material, Leaf springs 15-15 pass under rod10 so as to keep the rod normally at the top of slots 11, these springsbeing compressed when the platen is lowered upon the panel in o erativeposition. Pins 16 on the rear of p aten back 13 are loosely fitted intoslots 17 of arms 5 and 6, and are merely for preventing platen 4 fromrotating about rod 10. As the 'arms are lowered afcontinuation of theclosing movement (that of lowering the platen upon the panel) compressessprings 154-15 which both insures proper Contact between a negative andprinting paper and allows a slight universal movement of the platenAwith respect to the panel, thus automatically caring for the varyingthicknesses of dilferent plates, lilms and papers.

' One of the lever arms, 5, is part of al bell crank lever 18, the otherarm 19 of which passes throu h aslot 20 in the frame 2 of the cabinet,tlliere being a yoke 21 on the end of arm 19. Bot of the arms 5 and 6are pinned to shaft by pins 22. In order to actuate the platen I connectarm 19 b means of a link 23 to a plunger 24 which forms the core ofsolenoid 25. This solenoid is carried by yokes 26-26 attached to asupporting block 27. The solenoid terminals 28 and 29 are attached towires 30 and 31, and are connected to a source of power,diagramniatically illustrated at 32. Both wires 30 and 3l have oneterminal at an oil switch. being fastened thereto by nuts 33 and 34. Theoil tank 35 supports terminals 36 and 37, against which a switch bar 38contacts When raised by rod 39, link 40 and arm 41 of bellv crank lever42. This lever is pivoted at 43 to a support 44 extending up from oiltank 35.

An actuating rod 45 connects push button 46 to arm 4T of bell cranklever 42, and a spring 48 keeps the button pressed outwardly. Toenergize the solenoid it is only necessary to push vthe button. l findanvoil switch convenient because it prevents arcingr and thus reducesthe fire hazard, but any other convenient type of switch may be used initsplace.

llnder panel 3 there is :i reiector 49 adapted to cast the light raysfrom lamp 5.)

platen,

evenly `over the printing` panel. rlf'his lamp is connected to thesource ot `power 82 by Wires 5l and 52 the latter passing,` through aswitch 5B. A, `plunger makes the circuit when pressedinwardly, and is ofthe variety which springs outwardly automatically. As

the plunger is in the path ot arm 19 oitA- bell crank lever i8, the lamp'5G is lighted each time the platen is lowered. The base block 5l isadjustable along; the top 52 or cabinet l, as it is slotted` at 53 andnuts can be'loosened to permit of sliding,` the block 5l ln this Way thelamp timingcan be synchronized with tlieplaten, the parts ning adiustedso that lamp 50 will be 1' er proper contact is secured. bo.

Y circuitsabove described.

To eliminate the jar due to the solenoid rapidly moving' the platen, lprovide a shocl absorber in the l'orm ot a dash pot 65 hinged at 3o tothe cabinet l. Plunger is pivoted to arm 19 oit the bell crank lever,and its speed ot movement into the dash pot is regulated by theadjustable vent 68.

. lll/lith the machine as above described an operator needs only toadjust thepaper and negative and press the buttonto lower the light thelamp, and maintain printing` contact, and to release the button toraise. the platen andextinguish the printing` lamp. rlhe time necessaryfor printing,` is controlled by merely holding` in the push buttonv lcontemplate providing a completeprinter with negative clamps, masks,etc., but as these form no part of the present invention, they areomitted Vtrom the drawing.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as nenY and desire tosecure by Let-` ters latent is:

l.. ln a photographic printing,1 machine, the combination with asupport, and a printing' panel mounted thereon, of a platen pivoted tothe support to move to and from the 'printing panel, means for moving`the platen, a solenoid, said means being actuated by the solenoid, anelectric circuit including a hand switch and the solenoid, enabling` anoperator to lower the platen and hold it in Contact under pressure uponthe printinp` panel by making` the circuit with the switch.

2. ln a photographic printing machine, the combination with a support,and a printing panel'mounted thereon, of a platen pivoted to the supportto move to and from the printing; panel, a lever for operating thepir-tten, a solenoid connected to said lever for Vmoving` the platen inone direction. a spring; for moving the platen in the opposite direcing`the circuit, raise the platen trom the printing panel at Will.

ln a ahotoora hic nrintin machine c; l b a the combination with a trameand printing panel mounted thereon, of .a platen pivoted to the frame`and movable to and from an operative position with respect to theprinting panel, a solenoid ttor movingthe platen into an operativoposition, printing; lamp adapted to be lighted when the platen is inoperative position, andjmeans including an electric circuit and a handswitch for an operator to manually control will the duration oi theexposure by holding the switch in position to malte the circuit, thusenergizing the solenoid and causing it to lower the platen to anoperative position in which the printing lamp is lighted.

e. In photographic printing machine, the combination with a frame and aprinting panel mounted thereon, ott a platen hinged to moveto and 'fromanl operative position over the panel, a lever connecting' the platen tothe frame, with a spring tor moving' the platen in one direction, i anda solenoid tor moi/img the platen in the direction, a printing` lampadapted to be lighted when the platen has reached its opera tiveposition, an electric circuit including the solenoid, with a singlemanually operated .switch by which an operator controls'at will eachstep ol the entire cycle ol2 movement ci the machine, making,- thecircuit to first, lower the platen to the 'printing panel, second, to`hold the platen under pressure in its operative position, and finallybreaking: the circuit to release the platen and return it to itsinoperative position. i y ln a photographic printing machine. thecombination with a. iframe and a prioti panel mounted thereon, of aplaten inoY to and from an opera ims'ticn over l panel, a.. lever formovingv the platen. a solenoid for moving; the lever, there being;- a

.shock absorber :tor limiting' the shock oi the suddenly applied'torceot the solenoid upon the platen as it is moved to a position drei' thepanel.

6. In a photographic printing;` machine, the combination With a :trameand a printing; panel mounted thereon, of a platen hinged to the tramemovable to and from an operative position with respect to the printing;frame, a platen moving means including a solenoid, there being, asolenoid controlling; means comprising a dash pot for limiting` the'force and speed of operation of the sole/, noid as it moves the platen.

7. ln a photographic printing machine,

the combination with a printing panel, of a platen hinged to move to andfrom an operative position in contact with the printing panel mounted inthe frame, of a platen hinged to the frame to move to and from anoperative position over the printing panel, a solenoid for actuating theplaten in one direction and a spring for moving the platen in the otherdirection, an electric circuit including a source of power, thesolenoid, and a manually operated two-contact switch movable to make thecircuit by which the movements of the platen are controlled, the switchbeing moved to make the circuit to lower the platen and hold it underpressure against the printing frame and moved to break the circuit toallow the spring to move it from the printing panel.

9. In a photographic printing machine the combination with a framehaving a printing panel mounted therein, of a platen hinged to the frameand movable to and from an operative position over the printing panel, aplaten moving means including a solenoid, an electric circuit includingthe solenoid and a switch, there being connections between the solenoidand the platen to move the latter about its hinge as the solenoid isactuated when the circuit is closed by the switch.

10. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a frame anda printing panel mounted on the frame, of a platen i" hinged to theframe and movable to and from an operative position over the frame,platen moving means including a solenoid, and connecting members betweenthe platen and the solenoid, whereby the platen is turned about itshinge when the solenoid is actuated.

11. In a photographic printing machine,y

the combination with a frame and a printing panel mounted on theframe,of a platen hinged on one side of the frame and movable to and from anoperative position over the printing panel, a solenoid including areciprocating plunger on' the other side of the frame, and connectionsbetween the solenoid plunger and the platen whereby the reciprocatingmovement of the plunger will cause the platen to move about its hinge.

12. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a frame anda printing panel mounted on the frame, of a platen hinged to one side ofthe frame and movable to and from the printing panel, a spring formoving the platen in one direction, means for moving the platen againstthe spring action including a solenoid, there being connections betweenthe solenoid and the platen whereby the latter is moved about its hingeagainst the action of the spring when the solenoid is actuated.

13. A photographic` printing machine,`

comprising a printing panel, a platen movable into printing position onsaid panel and removable from said panel to clearance position to permitmanual access to the space between it and the panel, means, including anelectro-magnetic source of motive power, for moving said platen toprinting position, holding it in such position, and removing it toclearance position, a control member the` actuations of which aremanually governed, and connections, includinga device for regulating thecurrent to said source between said member and said means which governthe means to move said platen to printing position upon manual actuationof the control member, to remove said platen to clearance position uponfurther actuation of said member, and to retain said platen in printingposition between said actuations.

14. A photographic printing machine, comprising a printing panel, aplaten movable into printing position on said panel and removable intoclearance position from said panel to permit manual access to the spacebetween said platen and panel, means, including an electro-magneticsource of motive power, for moving said platen to printing position,holding it therein, and removing it to clearance position, a controlmember movable to different positions, the movements of which aremanually governed, and connections includin a device for regulating thecurrent to sai source between said member and said means which governsaid means first to move the platen to printing position when saidmember is manually moved to one of its positions, then to retain saidplaten in printing position while the member remains in said oneposition, and then to remove said platen to clearance position when saidmember is moved to a different position.

Signed at Rochester, New York, this 24 day of August, 1921.

CLARENCE H. OWEN.

